Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-12-01
THE PREACHER AND THE
TEACHER.

fasSor and understand each other we do
not materially differ If l had understood
his first article, as it is explained by the
second, should not have written reply;
but it is pleasant to discuss any question
of interest with one SO generous and full
of good humor as the Professor, so l am
not sorry the articles have appeared.
The criticism he offers, because l have
not oftener visited the schools is just;
and l have only this to plead in extenua-
ton, that with two or three times as
much to do as 1 can accomplish, it is
only a question as to what shall be done
and what left undone.
If should make as thorough pulpit
preparation as desire, it would take all
my time If l should visit as much as
desire that would take all my time; to say
nothing of many occasional demands and
family cares Get. So have to select
from what there is to do, that which
seems to me best to do, and bear the
other undone. But assure you l have
at least some appreciation of the teacher
and his work. l have never visited the
schools without being received most cor
daily and urged to come again. 1t is as
unreasonable for the right hand to be at
war with the left as for teacher and
preacher to antagonize each other in
their legitimate professions. Each is an
important factor in our civilization and
each is laboring in his particular sphere
for the advancement of the race
/ still think it a little severe to charge
upon the Christian ministry of to-day the
prosecutions and crimes of darker ages
than ours, and the mistakes of worship
ers under other forms of religion. For
instance in an article ON ''The preacher
and the teacher every one would sup
pose he meant the preacher and teacher
Of to-day And since Christianity is
specifically mentioned and the Christian
minister one of the parties compared, it
is fair to presume he meant the Christian
minister of to-day, and the teacher of to-
day in this land of free public schools
But he is charging us with the mistakes
of the church in an age when it was
supposed that Christianity was to con-
quer with the sword. Any reputable
minister will tell you now that Christ
ianity is to conquer with love and truth.
Christian ministers are not responsible
any more than are teachers for the vic
Tins slain by the Judgment They
are sacrificed in worship under a form
not Christian but heather. The same is
true with the victims of the Dangers
and the Nile"
The Mountain Meadow Massacre"
was committed by Mormons. Now if
you select your preachers in the compar-
ison from Heather religionists, l must
be permitted to select Heather teachers.
If you select preachers who lived in dark
ages, l must select teachers from the
oouS uSCC. IL w oClCSI lloul
lands must do the same But where
was the teacher from the fall of the Ro-
man Empire to the beginning of the re
formation" "a period of 1000 yeas)
When Rome was over run by the Barb
alians from the north, Christianity turned
these rude invaders into civilized nations
and set them in the way of progress.
When the fires of literature were well
nigh extinguished in this ignorent bar
barism Christian ministers established
parochial schools and for thousand
years kept the fires of literature burning
beside the fires of the altar
Ministers have often made mistakes
but teachers, lawyers, and physicians,
have been equally unfortunate; and all
alike rejoice in the brighter light of
better age than any that has preceded US.
G. LOwTHER